Greece Could Extend Territorial Waters to 12 Miles South and West of Crete Before Elections

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Greece could move to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles south and west of Crete before the next national elections, according to international relations expert Konstantinos Filis.

Speaking on SKAI’s main evening news bulletin on Tuesday, Filis, director of the Institute of International Affairs, said the scenario was now considered “quite likely.”

He described the possibility as a new development that had not previously been at the centre of discussions and said its implementation would represent a significant strategic move by Athens.

Greece considering 12 nautical mile extension around Crete

Filis stressed that a potential extension would be an independent Greek decision rather than a direct response to Turkish actions.

He explained that, looking at the map, Greece would seek to preserve a corridor for international navigation, particularly in the maritime area between Crete and the Peloponnese.

“This is very important to happen,” Filis said, referring to maintaining a passage for international shipping while expanding Greece’s territorial waters.

The move would represent a further exercise of Greece’s rights under international maritime law and would add another significant dimension to the ongoing dispute between Athens and Ankara over maritime boundaries and rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.

A second possible move could depend on Turkey

Filis also outlined a possible second phase, which could depend on how Turkey responds to developments in the region.

He pointed to Turkey’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine and the planned electricity interconnection cable, warning that Ankara could react strongly to developments surrounding the project.

According to Filis, Greece could then consider another territorial waters extension in an area covered by the Greek Egyptian maritime agreement.

This would potentially involve waters south of Rhodes, Kasos, Karpathos and Kastellorizo, where Greece and Egypt have already reached a partial maritime delimitation agreement.

Third scenario could surprise Turkey

Filis added that a third scenario could also remain under consideration.

He described it as an option that would not concern the Mediterranean and could prove “even more irritating” to Turkey.

However, he stressed that, apart from the first scenario involving Crete, the other possibilities would depend heavily on Turkey’s behaviour and its response to a series of sensitive regional issues expected to develop in the coming period.

What this means for Greece and Turkey

Any Greek decision to extend territorial waters to 12 nautical miles around Crete would carry major geopolitical significance.

The issue is particularly sensitive because Turkey has historically objected to a unilateral Greek extension of territorial waters in the Aegean and has maintained its casus belli position regarding such a move there.

A decision focused on areas south and west of Crete would therefore represent a carefully targeted step by Athens, while potentially avoiding some of the most sensitive maritime areas of the Aegean.

The possibility comes as Greece and Turkey continue to navigate tensions over maritime boundaries, energy projects, marine parks and competing claims in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Source: SKAI.gr

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